Compactor door with literature storage compartment

ABSTRACT

A refuse compacting apparatus having a hollow closure which carries a handle along its upper edge is provided with literature storage means within the closure. The handle is provided with downwardly opening slot through which the literature is inserted to be held in a pocket formed within the closure at a suitable position below the slot. The spacing of the bottom of the pocket below the slot is preselected to permit the upper portion of the literature to project outwardly from the slot for facilitated viewability and accessibility. The pocket structure further serves to resiliently bias the closure panels so as to reduce rattling or vibration. The pocket-forming structure cooperates with a boss on the rear panel of the closure in guiding the literature into the desired inserted disposition within the pocket. The handle further defines a protective cover overlying the slot providing spill protection for the literature stored in the pocket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to door structures, and in particular to a doorstructure for a domestic refuse compactor which is provided with meansfor carrying sheet material, such as literature and the like.

2. Description of the Background Art

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,399 of Charles E. Sulcek, which patent is ownedby the assignee hereof, a refuse compactor is disclosed having adrawer-like compacting receptacle provided with a drawer front whereinthe front panel may be readily replaced by slidable mounting thereof inside channels. The drawer front includes a front panel and a rear paneland a frame including an upper handle portion for opening the drawer.

Herbert M. Reeves discloses, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,592,437, a recipe cardholder for stoves. A plurality of recipe card holders are provided, eachof which is adapted to hold a number of recipe cards. The stove draweris constructed to removably support the holders in a covereddisposition. The holders are detachably supported from a ledge providedon the door by means of a hook on the top of the holder.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,845,707, James H. Enright et al disclose a trashcompactor wherein an access door is provided with a hollow interior, orpocket, and a dispensing slot in the rear panel of the door throughwhich folded bags are inserted and withdrawn for use in lining thecompactor basket.

Another form of trash compactor having means on the door for storingbags is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,054,088 of Michael A. Nee. As showntherein, an upwardly opening container is provided on the rear of thedoor to serve for trash bag storage and a deodorizer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprehends a closure construction for a refusecompactor, wherein the closure is provided with improved means forstoring literature sheets and the like therein.

In particular, the invention comprehends a door or drawer frontstructure having an upper handle defining a slot for insertion andwithdrawal of literature sheets and the like relative to a storagepocket provided within the structure subjacent the slot.

The handle further defines a protective cover overlying the slot toprevent spillage of refuse and the like into the pocket as duringloading of refuse in the compactor.

A plurality of interchangeable front panels are stored within the dooror drawer front. The means defining the pocket further serves as meansfor biasing the panels forwardly.

The rear panel of the structure includes a forwardly extending bosswhich cooperates with the wall means defining the bottom of the pocketfor directing literature sheets and the like into fully inserteddisposition in the pocket.

The entrance to the storage pocket is located to effectively precludepassage of refuse and the like thereinto, while, at the same time,permits the literature sheets to extend a short distance outwardlythrough the slot for facilitated visibility and accessibility.

More specifically, the invention comprehends the provision in a door ordrawer front having a handle extending across the upper edge thereof ofan improved literature storage means including means defining anupwardly open space, means on the handle defining a slot openingdownwardly into the space, and means defining a bottom support spacedbelow the slot for supporting sheet material inserted downwardly intothe space through the slot, the support being positioned to cause a topportion of the inserted sheet material to be exposed at the slot forgrasping by a user to permit selective removal of the sheet materialfrom the space as desired.

In the illustrated embodiment, a portion of the handle overlies the slotto protect the pocket from intrusion of refuse, spillage, and the like.

In the illustrated embodiment, the slot effectively opens at an angle tothe vertical, permitting the sheet material to be disposed angularly inthe stored disposition.

In the illustrated embodiment, wall means defining the pocket furtherdefines biasing means for resiliently biasing the additionalinterchangeable panels against the front panel of the door or drawer.The wall means comprises a sheet provided with a rearwardly folded flapdefining the bottom of the pocket and resiliently bearing against therear panel.

In the illustrated embodiment, the rear panel defines an inwardlyprojecting boss and the wall means flap engages the boss.

The literature storage means of the present invention is extremelysimple and economical of construction while yet providing the highlydesirable features discussed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refuse compactor having literaturestorage means embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the compactor lookingforwardly from the rear thereof and with the compactor drawer in anopen, access position illustrating the disposition of the literaturesheet material in the storage pocket thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section illustrating ingreater detail the literature storage means; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the insertion ofthe wall means defining the bottom of the literature storage pocket intothe hollow door construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention as disclosed in thedrawing, a closure which may comprise a drawer front or door, 10(hereinafter referred to as a door) is provided with new improved sheetliterature material storage means generally designated 11. Door 10 isassociated with a refuse compactor generally designated 12, having ahousing 13 defining a front access opening 14, which is selectivelyclosed by the door 10. As seen in FIG. 2, the door is mounted on thefront of a drawer 15 defining a refuse-receiving receptacle in which therefuse is compacted by suitable compacting means (not shown) withinhousing 13. The drawer is movable to a forwardly access position, asseen in FIG. 2, wherein the rear of the door is exposed. As shown, theliterature storage means 11 is arranged to store the sheet literature 16in an upper rear portion of the door so that the upper end portion 17 ofthe literature projects slightly outwardly therefrom for facilitatedremoval and viewability.

Door 10 effectively comprises a hollow door having the top portionthereof closed by a handle 18 for moving the drawer between thecompacting and access positions relative to the housing 13.

The handle includes a grasping portion 19 and a lower mounting portion20 including a generally horizontally extending base portion 21 and adownwardly extending rear flange 22. The base and flange are cut away todefine a slot 23 which opens downwardly and forwardly at an angle into aspace 24 defined within the door between a rear panel 25 and a frontpanel 26 thereof. The rear and front panels are effectively retained ina surrounding frame generally designated 27 which includes, as a portionthereof, the lower portion 20 of handle 18. More specifically, rearpanel 25 is secured to the flange 22 of the handle lower portion 20 bysuitable screws 28 at opposite sides of slot 23.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the frame 27 includes side channels 29 embracingthe side edges of rear panel 25 and the front panel 26.

As shown in FIG. 3, handle bottom portion 20 further defines a pair ofspaced, downturned front flanges 30 and 31 defining therebetween achannel 32 for receiving the upper ends of the front panel 26 and one ormore additional panels 33 which may be selectively substituted for frontpanel 26, as desired.

A panel spacer 34 is provided at the rear of the panels 33 with itsupper edge also received in channel 32 forwardly of flange 31, as shownin FIG. 3. As illustrated in FIG. 4, spacer panel 34 is formed with anintegral folded flap 35 which is turned about a fold line 36 to extendrearwardly upwardly into engagement with the front surface 37 of therear panel 25. Rear panel 25 is provided with a forwardly projectingrectangular boss 38 and, as seen in FIG. 3, flap 35 engages the boss. Asshown in FIG. 4, panel 34 is slid downwardly into the front channel 39of the side frame members rearwardly of the front panel 26 andadditional one or more panels 33 prior to the installation of the handle18 on the top of the door.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the folded portion 35 of the spacer paneleffectively defines a pocket 40 in door space 24 for receiving the lowerend of the literature sheet material 16. The inclined upper edge portion41 of the boss 38 and the inclined disposition of flap 35 serve as meansfor guiding the lower end 42 of the literature sheet material into thebottom of pocket 40 adjacent the fold 36. As further illustrated in FIG.3, the bottom of the literature storage pocket 40 is spaced forwardly ofslot 23 so as to define an inclined storage position for the sheetmaterial 16 and permit the material to be inserted into the storagemeans 11 without bending or distortion.

In the illustrated embodiment, the spacer panel 34 may be formed of aresilient material, such as suitable plastic or paperboard, whereby thefolded flap 35 resiliently biases panel 34 forwardly away from rearpanel 25 and toward front panel 26, thereby urging the intermediatepanels 33 forwardly against the front panel 26. This arrangementprovides improved, vibration free retention of the panels in the doorwhile providing a positive means for retaining the pocket 40 open toreceive literature or the like.

An upstanding portion 43 of handle 18 extends rearwardly to overlie slot23, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, so as to effectively prevent intrusion ofrefuse and the like into the pocket 40 as during placement of the refusein the drawer 15 in the normal loading operation of the refusecompactor. Splashing and throwing of items of the refuse may occurduring the forceful compaction operation, but the location of slot 23 inthe uppermost portion of the door and the overlying protectiverelationship of the handle portion 43 to the slot 23 effectively preventsuch splash and thrown material from entering the slot.

By providing the flap 35 in the spacer panel 34 and the slot 23 in thedoor handle 18, an improved literature storage means is provided in thedoor at minimum expense and modification of the standard doorconstruction.

In use, the operating instructions, wiring diagrams, etc., provided withthe refuse compactor, may be retained in the storage pocket 40 forfacilitated withdrawal and use by the user or serviceman. By maintainingsuch literature in association with the apparatus itself, loss thereofis effectively avoided. Suitable instructions may be included in theliterature 16 for use by the operator of the apparatus in avoiding thenecessity of service calls. As best seen in FIG. 2, the projecting upperportion 17 of the literature is readily viewable by the user so that theuser is aware of the disposition of the literature in the door pocket,and as discussed above, the projecting upper end portion facilitatesremoval of the literature from the pocket, when desired.

While the invention is disclosed in a door associated with a refusecompactor for which the novel literature storage means is advantageouslyadapted, the invention comprehends the provision of such improvedliterature storage means in appliances generally where it is desirableto retain servicing and other information in readily accessible andviewable disposition in the appliance door.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of thebroad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

Having described the invention, the embodiments of the invention inwhich an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined asfollows:
 1. In a refuse compacting apparatus having a generally verticalclosure for providing access to a refuse receptacle, said closuredefining a bottom and an upper portion and having a handle fixed to andextending horizontally across said upper portion thereof, theimprovement comprising:means on said handle defining a slot openingdownwardly into a generally vertical internal space defined by saidclosure; and means in said door defining a raised pocket means spacedbelow said slot and above said closure bottom for removably supportingsheet material inserted downwardly into said space through said slot,said pocket defining a bottom support for the material in said pocketmeans positioned to cause a top portion of the inserted sheet materialto be disposed to be accessible at said slot for grasping of the sheetmaterial by a user to permit selective removal of the sheet materialfrom the pocket means as desired.
 2. The refuse compacting apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein a portion of said handle extends upwardly from andoverlies said slot.
 3. The refuse compacting apparatus of claim 1wherein said slot effectively opens at an angle to the vertical,permitting the sheet material to be disposed at an angle to the verticalin said pocket means.
 4. The refuse compacting apparatus of claim 1wherein a portion of said handle overlies said slot to define a guidefor the sheet material and a protective cover for the top portion of thesheet material at said slot.
 5. In a refuse compacting apparatus havinga housing defining an access opening, and a closure defined by a pair offacially spaced vertical panels, said closure being movably mounted tosaid housing for providing selective access into said housing throughsaid opening, improved means for providing a sheet material storagecompartment in said closure comprising:a handle extending along an upperedge of said closure, said handle including a generally horizontal baseportion overlying the space between said spaced panels; means defining aslot through said handle base portion opening downwardly into saidspace; and means within said space defining a raised storage pocketmeans for removably holding sheet material and the like inserted intosaid pocket through said slot, said pocket means defining a bottomsupport for the material in said pocket means positioned to cause a topportion of the inserted sheet material to be disposed to be accessibleat said slot for grasping of the sheet material by a user to permitselective removal of the sheet material from the pocket means asdesired.
 6. The refuse compacting apparatus of claim 5 wherein saidhandle includes a portion which extends upwardly at an angle so as tooverlie said slot and thereby define means for preventing spillage ofrefuse being inserted into said apparatus from entering into saidstorage pocket means.
 7. The refuse compacting apparatus of claim 5wherein said handle includes upwardly extending guide means for guidingthe sheet material angularly downwardly through said slot into saidstorage pocket means.
 8. The refuse compacting apparatus of claim 5wherein said means defining said storage pocket means further comprisesbiasing means for resiliently biasing said spaced vertical panels. 9.The refuse compacting apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means definingsaid storage pocket means comprises a vertically disposed sheet member,said sheet member extending generally parallel to said spaced panels andincluding an integral flap which extends upwardly towards said slot. 10.In a refuse compacting apparatus closure having a peripheral frame, afront panel movably retained in said frame, and a rear outer panelcarried by the frame to define a space therebetween, the improvementcomprisingmeans defining a storage pocket means in said space forholding sheet material removably therein, said storage pocket meansfurther defining resilient biasing means acting between said front andrear panels to retain said front panel against rattling in said frame.11. The refuse compacting apparatus of claim 10 wherein said frameincludes a handle portion for manipulating the closure, and said pocketmeans opens outwardly through said handle.
 12. The refuse compactingapparatus of claim 10 wherein said means defining said storage pocketmeans comprises a sheet member provided with a rearwardly folded flapdefining the bottom of said pocket.
 13. The refuse compacting apparatusof claim 10 wherein said means defining said storage pocket meanscomprises a sheet member provided with a rearwardly folded flap definingthe bottom of said pocket means and resiliently bearing aga:nst the rearpanel.
 14. The refuse compacting apparatus of claim 10 wherein said rearpanel defines a boss projecting into said space and said means definingsaid storage pocket means comprises a sheet member provided with arearwardly folded flap which bears against said boss and defines thebottom of said pocket means.
 15. The refuse compacting apparatus ofclaim 10 wherein at least one additional front panel member is carriedby said frame and disposed within said space, and wherein said resilientbiasing means acts to bias said additional panel towards said frontpanel.
 16. In a refuse compacting apparatus having a housing defining anaccess opening, and a closure for said opening having a peripheral frameand front and rear spaced vertical panels carried by said frame, saidframe defining a bottom and an upper portion, means for storing sheetsof literature or the like in the space between said panels, comprising:ahandle extending along an upper edge of said upper portion of theclosure, said handle including a horizontal base portion overlying saidspace between said panels and an upstanding portion which extendsupwardly and rearwardly from said base portion; means defining a slotthrough said handle base portion opening downwardly into said space,said slot being positioned rearwardly of said upstanding handle portionsuch that said upstanding handle portion overlies said slot; meansdefining a boss on said rear closure panel, said boss extendingpartially into the space between said panels; and a panel spacer formedof resilient material and carried by said frame, said panel spacer beingdisposed within the space between said front and rear panels and havingan integral flap extending rearwardly and upwardly into contact withsaid boss so as to define with said rear panel a storage pocket meansspaced above said closure bottom for receiving sheet literature insertedthrough said slot.
 17. The refuse compacting apparatus of claim 16wherein said upstanding handle portion forms a guide means which definesa literature insertion path which is inclined forwardly downwardly fromthe vertical and wherein said panel spacer is disposed within said spacesubstantially forwardly of said slot, whereby said flap and said slotcooperate to define an inclined literature storage pocket which extendsgenerally along said inclined literature insertion path.